Streeter says he spoke to the newspaper before the story ran.

"I told them if we reach the right agreements in Southampton the show will stay there, " he told us.

"That's the wishes of the board and the membership." But the Portsmouth News went ahead with the story.

And Streeter is emphatic about the future of the Southampton show. "I told them if we get the agreement we want with Southampton we don't want Portsmouth to waste a lot of time and money putting together a full blown bid to us."

Streeter told Boating Business he had a letter between ABP and Southampton City Council that - subject to contract - allowed NBS to use Berth 101 for 2007 and 2008.

"That gives us what we want, " said Streeter. "Hopefully this will be agreed soon enough for us to make an official announcement at ExCeL."

The original plan for the Mayflower Park extension called for it to be finished for 2007 but, says Streeter, the extension of Berth 101 gives the show five years security on the existing site.

"That will allow time to get the planning permission through and for us to plan the show properly, " he told BB.

"We could be on the extended single site in 2009."